Substitute for railroad-frocr



No. 80,117. PATENTED SEPT. 25, 1860. S. A. BLACK & P. 0. FORD.SUBS-TITUTE FOR RAILROAD FROGS,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL A. BLACK AND FREDERICK G. FORD, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SUBSTITUTE FOR RAILROAD-FROG.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 30,117, dated September 25, 1860.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL A. BLACK and FREDERICK O. FORD, of Erie, inthe county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certainnew and useful Substitute for the Railroad-Frog; and we do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, refer ence being had to the accompanying drawings and to theletters and marks thereon.

Our invention is designed to perform all the functions of the frogordinarily used on rail-roads for guiding the train in its passage onthe track in crossing another track, and to be operated by the wheels ofthe locomotive. An examination of our invention will show that itsoperation is very perfect and safe and always reliable, and that its usewill entirely prevent the occurrence of any accident and injury in thecrossing of tracks by a train of cars.

Our invention is clearly shown by the drawings, which form part of thisspecification, Figure 1 being a top view of a straight track and anoblique track at the point of crossing, and Fig. 2 being a view byvertical section taken through the center of the inner rail of thestraight track.

In each of the figures like marks and letters are used to indicate likeparts.

The two rails of the straight track are lettered (a, a), and the tworails of the oblique track (6, b

In carrying out our invention we cut-oif a section or piece (0) of theinner straight bar (a), or of the inner oblique bar (6), whichever ofthe tracks being complete, and if both complete and having in use theordinary frog we remove so much of the rails of both tracks as will givespace for the fitting in of the piece (a) and for its proper motions. Bya chair ((1) we give the piece (a) a suitable bearing upon which it maybe turned. Within the piece (0) we fit a recessed plate (3)) which willrest upon and over the bearing and chair.

To each end of the piece (0) we attach plates (9, g), the outer ends ofwhich 1 (h, h) are bent down and by pins or screws are connected to oneend of double headed horizontal levers which have fulcrums (j) on blocks(is). These horizontal levers while they are apart of the means forgiving motion to the piece (0) also form a support to the ends of thatpiece. To each of the heads (Z, Z) of these levers are attached bars (m,m) which connect them to vertical levers (n, n). One of these verticallevers (n, n) at each end is attached to a straight rail and one to theoblique rail, the point of attachment being the fulcrum (0) of thelever. The upper arm (p) of each of these levers is flattened so as topresent an operating surface for the flange of the wheel of thelocomotive. Now it will readily be seen that when the piece (0) is inline with the inner rail (6/) of the straight track, the arms (p) of thestraight track are depressed and those of the oblique track elevated, sothat a train of cars coming along on the oblique track from eitherdirection would operate, by the flange of the wheel striking and forcingdown the arm (p), the piece and place it in line with the inner rail ofthe oblique track and thus provide for the safe crossing of the train;and when the train on the straight track came along the arms (7)) ofthat track being elevated and those of the oblique track depressed thepiece (0) of the rail supported upon the rail of the oblique to that ofthe straight track and afiord like safe passage on that track.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

The arrangement of the levers and bars herein set forth in combinationwith the piece (0) of the rail supported upon the chair and operated asdescribed.

This specification signed this 17th day of August 1860.

SAM. A. BLACK. F. O. FORD. Witnesses:

SAML. H. METCALF, R. M. BROWN.

